Predicting vocational rehabilitation outcomes of young adults with specific learning disabilities: Transitioning from school to work

Abstract

Individuals with specific learning disabilities are a heterogeneous group with varied academic challenges and cognitive processing challenges. The manifestations of specific learning disabilities interfere with the acquisition of academic skills and impede vocational success. This study analyzed the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) case service report (RSA-911) data for fiscal year (FY) 2007 to examine effects of demographic characteristics and employment outcomes of persons with specific learning disabilities. The RSA-911 FY 2007 dataset was examined via the chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis. The CHAID analysis was utilized to extract predictive information for rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with specific learning disabilities. The exhaustive CHAID analysis allowed the segmentation of the large group of people into homogeneous subgroups (i.e., end groups). Results illuminate those demographic characteristics most salient to successful rehabilitation outcomes for consumers with specific learning disabilities. The chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis indicated that public support significantly enhanced competitive employment outcomes.